Pakistan and Ukraine commit to strengthening defence ties

Pakistan’s Minister of Defence Production (MoDP) Rana Tanveer Hussain – along with a MoDP delegation – is on a four-day visit to Kiev to attend Arms and Security 2017, Ukraine’s annually-held defence industry exhibition. Additional Secretary of the MoDP Maj. Gen. Tariq Ghafoor and Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) Chairman Lt. Gen. Muhammad Naeem Ashraf are also part of the delegation.

According to a press statement released by the Pakistani government, the delegation had met with Oleg Gladkovskiy, the First Deputy Secretary of National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine as well as Chairman Inter-Agency Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation and Export Control of Ukraine.

Besides broadly calling for growth in bilateral defence and defence production ties, the two sides sought to “explore … new avenues to enhance the bilateral relations especially in the field of defence production for joint venture with Heavy Industries Taxila and Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works.”

HIT and the Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) are also exhibiting at Arms and Security 2017.

Notes & Comments:

Pakistan is a major market for the Ukrainian defence industry. In 2016, HIT signed a $600 million U.S. memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) with its Ukrainian counterparts for various tank maintenance and modernization programs in Pakistan. In addition, HIT bought 200 6TD-2 diesel engines for the al-Khalid-series main battle tank (MBT). Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ukraine Maj. Gen (retired) Athar Abbas had also suggested that the Pakistan Army could acquire 100 Oplot-M MBTs. The Malyshev Factory in Kharkiv reportedly prepared an evaluation unit for Pakistan under the designation of “Oplot-P.”

Currently, the mainstay of bilateral defence collaboration between Pakistan and Ukraine is based on heavy armour, most notably MBTs such as the al Khalid and al Zarrar. This could continue in the long-term with Pakistan engaging Ukraine for critical technologies, such as tank engines (e.g. the 1,500 hp 6TD-3) and for technical collaboration in the development of armour technology.

However, with Kiev ostensibly committed to rebuilding the Ukrainian military and, in tandem, revitalizing the Ukrainian defence industry, there may be additional opportunities for bilateral cooperation. Possible areas could include collaboration in munitions development, research in radars and electronics and space technology development (e.g. satellites).

Frkh

$600 million, not $600. I believe it’s a typo.

Randian Tv

Pak should buy Oplot M tanks and deploy them on eastern border & move Al-Khalid to western border.

AhmAd IbrAhim

Wonder what type of joint project KSEW can have with Ukraine. I believe both China and Turkey are currently sufficient to provide promising solutions to our naval requirements.

Hassan Raza

Hi Bilal,

Any information about the number of tanks in service with Pakistan army? I have got the following information:-

which makes a total of 2640. And I have also heard that 200 Al Khalid 1 having weight of 47 tonnes under production.

bill

The ex Soviet states have large number of capable technicians and engineers, may be Pakistan should bring these techs personnel for training and development of domestic manpower. Ukraine can also help in technical training of high level.

Pakistan should acquire technology and not buy products. Ukraine technology is now available but it may not be available in the future. Pakistan needs, badly needs technology to build transport aircraft. No no not just air force, army and navy. Pakistan needs needs that. But it will not happen because defense establishment and MBA’s do not think in terms of national interest. They think off the shelf and market.

TZK

They need to build a technology skills base and it is not beyond them because they have done it with nuclear weapons.

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